#6 Ho! Wheat Starch

One awesome thing about the size of Austin is the variety of Asian grocery stores all within 20 minutes of each other. Needing to get some special ingredients for some sweet potato dumplings, I headed out early in the morning for the mega MT Supermarket. Since it's the largest market in central Texas, I figured it would be one stop shopping, right? WRONG!!! Despite the varieties of starch they had, they were missing my bloody wheat starch! One good thing to know is that when ingredients are that difficult, you have to even further specialize the market. What do I mean by that? Contrary to popular opinion, Asian is not another word for Chinese and my friend told me the MT Market is run by Vietnamese, if you get my drift. A little north of my place is a Japanese market: Asahi Imports I wouldn't go there looking for Chinese ingredients. Further north is a Korean market that probably couldn't offer me help as I am not familiar with the need for wheat starch in Korean cooking (or Korean cooking for that matter). I have to go for the hardcore stuff, and there's only one market I know that also happens to supply the most hardcore Chinese restaurant I know and that's Asia Market. While I can't declare it the only place in Austin that carries wheat starch, it's the only place I know of that definitely sells wheat starch. The cafe is now next to the market instead of inside. Go there and have some eggplant. As for the market - try the sesame seed balls and the crispy chicken dumplings, they make life nicer.

#5 Botanical Gardens & Uncle Billy's Brew & Q

Being a nice day and all, Frederick and I went out to the botanical gardens. One good thing to remember is even though the weather may feel like Spring, if it isn't Spring - it will show. When we got there some of the pools were not filled with water and there was more brown than green. Texas Winters, when they happen, are something to not be underestimated. When I went to Portland, about two weeks ago, it was much colder in Texas - freezing. I was able to enjoy nice 40-45 degree weather in Oregon. Point being made - comeback when it's been warm for a while and raining. Among other things, the Rosemary was growing nice - rub some between your fingers and smell away.

We decided to eat in the Barton Springs area , ultimately deciding on this place that had "BREWERY" in giant letters. We later found out that it was Uncle Billy's Brew and Q - Q referring to barbecue. I normally don't have much of an opinion of barbecue, it's just meat - right? First off, this place has more variety than your average barbecue place - burgers and chicken fried chicken, also a vegetable plate with decent options. They have a good selection of desserts - more than just peach cobbler. It's also a microbrewery and that served as the initial attraction. I tried the Agave Wit, which is an awesome Belgian style brew made with orange peels and coriander. The orange hits you immediately while the coriander leaves a great after taste. I must say, coriander goes well with meat whether it's cooked with it, or it's in a beer. You can really taste it after smelling a lot of rosemary laced fingers, I tell ya.

#4Texas, really?

After having been to the great state of Oregon (trees, marion berries, hazelnuts, Powell's Book Store) I've recognized one of Texas' great failings: clay based dirt. I feel as though I can get as muddy as I want in Portland without worrying that the mud will clump - which was the case. I went for a walk today in the park around Walnut Creek just off of N. Lamar. past the Chinatown area. Well, it had completely escaped my mind that it had been raining 24 hrs straight a few days ago. There were some muddy areas that didn't phase me, after all, I'd been to Oregon. This first step isn't bad, but when you realize that dirt is continually clumping to the ends of your shoes - 5 minutes in, you have a cement block equivalent and sore thighs. Combine that with many dogs, that finished swimming, that are way too happy to see you and life is grand for a second and clay dirty for half a day. It should be nice come springtime and summer when there's less rain. Just remember, dogs like to swim all year.

Among other things, I just found out today that I find Dobermans extremely intimidating. I like Rottweilers and Pit Bulls, but wow - slim pointy ears = I'll stand up on my hind legs and rip out your esophagus.

#3 Pumpkin Ice Cream

I don't know if this is the case at other HEBs, but there's a limited edition Dreyer's half gallon of Pumpkin ice cream at the HEB on Burnet and 2222. Does that sound good? or does that sound GOOD? I would've bought it, but I'm still working on a box of taro popsicles I bought some time back. I'm also on a budget as well as the "I'm on a budget" diet.

$4 gets you what could be some awesome creamy pumpkin goodness. Tell me how it is :(

#2: Discomfort

I recall approximately six years ago there being an article in the San Antonio Express News about Twin Sisters Bakery and Cafe being a restaurant that belonged in Austin.

- you see, even us San Antonians can feel when something wandered onto the wrong side of the tracks -

What is it about Twin Sisters that made it so Austin like? Sweet potato muffins, the chocolate zucchini cake, and the short lived beet cake. It's healthy. It's healthy all over. Their zucchini cake consists mostly of zucchini by weight!

Austin provides a very different atmosphere from San Antonio. Everything boasts being organic, eco-friendly, and healthy. Despite that, coming from an emerging foodie, Twin Sisters really belongs to San Antonio for one reason: Twin Sisters hasn't sacrificed taste.

Things in San Antonio just taste better. It's currently 1:38AM and I know two places in San Antonio where I can get a good chicken fried steak. Austin? 0. In Austin, I'd have to resign myself to eating some kind of vegetarian taco or over priced burger, both of which I find very irritating. Austin lacks comfort food. Being organic, and healthy just doesn't compensate for a lack of taste. Twin Sisters can make that compromise in San Antonio, and it has to because the competition in San Antonio dictates, if a place has nothing that tastes good - it goes out of business.

Twin Sisters Bakery and Cafe (San Antonio)

Star Seeds Cafe (Austin) Has a chicken fried steak, but some of the meals here taste like TV dinners, and by some, I mean the meatloaf. Try at your own discretion.